10 CLASS 6A SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023

 

ALESIA ALVAREZ, TOPEKA HIGH

Alvarez had big shoes to fill in taking over as Topeka High’s catcher last season, replacing departed All-Class 6A first-teamer Zoe Caryl. Safe to say, she handled the pressure just fine. Alavarez ranked fourth on the Trojans with a .468 average, helping Topeka capture its second straight Class 6A state championship. Her 4 home runs and 38 RBI were second only to Stanford signee Nija Canady on the team as Alvarez earned first-team All-Centennial League and first-team All-Class 6A honors for the 22-3 Trojans.
 

ADISYN CARYL, TOPEKA HIGH

A starter at shortstop since her sophomore season for Topeka High (freshman year canceled for COVID), Caryl has been a major piece of the Trojans’ back-to-back Class 6A state championship teams. After hitting .608 with 40 RBI as a sophomore to earn Centennial League newcomer of the year and first-team all-league and All-Class 6A honors, Caryl was even better last season as a junior. She hit .635 with 3 home runs and 36 RBI to lead the Trojans to a 22-3 mark and the 6A title. The Illinois signee was first-team all-league and All-Class 6A for the second straight year.
 

EMMERSON COPE, WASHBURN RURAL

Cope led Washburn Rural to a runner-up finish in Class 6A last year with both her arm and her bat, earning her a first-team All-Class 6A selection as well as Centennial League Player of the Year honors. In the circle, Cope was 15-2 with a 0.71 ERA. At the plate, Cope hit .558 with 5 home runs and 37 RBI. Cope has signed with Nebraska.

 

BAILEY DILLON, OLATHE NORTH

Dillon earned All-State and All-Sunflower League first-team honors as an infielder last year. She drove in 16 runs with 41 hits on a .532 batting average while stealing 15 bases. Dillon helped lead Olathe North to a 18-5 record and a regional title before losing to eventual state champion Topeka in the state quarterfinals.
 

RYLEE FRAGER, DERBY
 
Frager is a key returning player for the Panthers, who graduated just two seniors off a 21-4 team that finished third in Class 6A last spring. The senior first baseman batted .412 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs, and also scored 28 runs. Frager, who earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team honors and All-6A honorable mention, is one of two recipients of Southwestern College’s Moundbuilder Spirit Scholarship for next year.
 

KIERRA GOOS, MANHATTAN

Goos had an outstanding junior season for Manhattan a year ago, leading the Indians to a 15-7 record and regional runner-up finish. Serving as the Indians’ ace, Goos posted a 6-4 record in 10 starts, throwing three shutouts and posting a 2.94 ERA while striking out 118 and walking just 22. She also hit .510 with a .880 slugging percentage, driving in 12. Goos earned first-team All-Centennial League and first-team All-Class 6A honors. The South Dakota State commit is already off to a strong start this season, throwing a four-inning no-hitter against Lawrence in the season opener in which all 12 outs were via strikeout and backing her effort with a three-run homer.

 

KELSEY HOEKSTRA, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH

Hoekstra earned All-Sunflower first team honors as a pitcher last year. She picked up 202 strikeouts across 112 innings pitched last season with a 1.00 ERA. She also drove in 32 runs on a .476 batting average from the plate. Hoeskstra led Shawnee Mission North to a 20-2 record and a regional title before losing to Wichita Northwest 1-0 in the state quarterfinals.
 

NEVAEH LOPEZ, WICHITA NORTHWEST
 
Lopez was recognized for her utility role last season with the Grizzlies, earning All-Class 6A second-team and All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team honors. A catcher and third baseman, Lopez batted .464 with 23 RBIs and 9 extra-base hits among 31 total. The senior also scored 38 runs and stole 11 bases for 6A’s fourth-place team, which graduated just one player. She has signed to play at Delta State University.
 

BRIE MANWARREN, GARDEN CITY

Manwarren was unanimously named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year last season as a junior. She hit. 493 with 23 extra-base hits and posted a .986 slugging percentage. In the circle, Manwarren went 15-4 with a 2.19 ERA, recording 212 strikeouts. She helped the Buffaloes go undefeated in WAC play and finish with a 17-5 overall record. Manwarren was a second-team All-6A pick as a pitcher by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association. 
 

KENDALL YARNELL, OLATHE NORTHWEST

Yarnell earned All-State honorable mention and All-Sunflower League first-team honors last year, as well as being named the Sunflower League Player of the Year. She helped lead Olathe Northwest to a 13-9 record and regional title game appearance before losing 6-4 to Olathe North in the regional final. Yarnell also competed as a thrower on the Ravens track and field team, finishing second in discus and fourth in shot put at state.